Following years of legal struggles to take down anchoring, it finally succeeded as we rang in the New Year’s celebrations. While anchoring is survived by its even uglier sibling – the long putter – the golf world can breathe a sigh of relief. Long putters meanwhile can no longer be pressed into a golfer’s midsection.

For the likes of Matt Kuchar and Adam Scott, it may be the end of an era – or a career, depending on how they adapt to the regular stroke.

Photo: Getty Images // Matt Kuchar’s career was lifted by anchoring his putter into his belly.

The R&A and the USGA basically came together three years ago and set out on a witch hunt to bring down those that were guilty of bastardising the game through anchoring. The ban was approved within months and written into the Rules of Golf, but it took another two-and-a-half-years for it to come into effect.